Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Rick Cleveland reviews the 2015 Saints

The NFL playoffs are well underway and the New Orleans Saints, the team for whom most Mississippians cheer, are watching on TV for the second consecutive season.

Yes, and for the second straight season, the Saints finished with a losing, 7-9 record. What to do? We'll get to that. But first, some history...

For long-time Saints fans, 7-9 doesn't seem so bad. New Orleans had a franchise for a dozen years before the Saints finally won as many as seven games in 1978. Many of you may remember. Archie Manning was the quarterback, running for his life.

But recent seasons have brought much better results and much higher expectations. First Jim Mora — and then Sean Payton — lifted the Saints into the upper strata of the NFL.

For those fans who have jumped on the black and gold bandwagon here in recent years, these last two seasons have been a study in frustration. It seems that everything that can go wrong, has.

Mainly, the Saints haven't stopped much of anybody. Most problems have been on the defensive side of the football. Let's put it this way: Third down has been a most productive down for the opposition. The Saints gave up 29.8 points per game, which ranks 32nd of 32 NFL teams. You can't go lower.

The Saints fired defensive coordinator Rob Ryan in mid-November and inserted Dennis Allen into the job. Coincidentally or not, the Saints won three of their last four games, winning twice on the road. So, there's hope.

The Saints, at 4-8, in November, could have phoned it in. Payton could have lost them completely. Instead, Payton coached his rear end off and the Saints finished respectably.

The first decision that had to made at season's end concerned Payton, who was said to be on several other teams' wish list. He is staying in New Orleans, which is a good thing. The Saints were not likely to find another coach better than Sean Payton.

The second decision was easier. Quarterback.

Drew Brees, Saint Drew to Saints faithful, led the National Football League in passing. He will turn 37 this week, but he can still spin it as well as anyone and better than almost all. Doesn't seem to matter who his receivers are, either. The Saints traded tight end Jimmy Graham because of salary cap issues, so journeyman Ben Watson suddenly becomes the tight end putting up Pro Bowl numbers. Marques Colston is getting long in the tooth, so Brees starts throwing to Brandon Coleman as if he were Marques Colston. Willie Snead, an undrafted free agent out of Ball State, caught 69 of Brees' throws.

Say what you want about the Saints, but know this: Here in the Gulf South, we have for the past 10 seasons watched the position of quarterback played at its highest level. Brees has been a joy.

Playing with a bruised rotator cuff and a torn plantar fascia in his right foot, Brees completed 68.3 percent of his passes for an NFL-best 4,870 yards, 32 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions, which tied for his lowest in any season with New Orleans.

Still, the Saints have all kinds of issues, on the field and off. Perhaps the biggest is with the salary cap. The Saints have no money to spend in free agency, which, considering their track record recently, might not be such a bad thing.

Brees goes into his last season under contract, counting a whopping $30 million toward the salary cap. To free up some millions, the Saints and Brees must renegotiate and extend that contract. I think they will.

Brees and Payton have formed a close bond. Both insist they intend to remain Saints. Fully expect Brees' contract to be extended, lessening the immediate salary cap hit. Next: Spend any available money on improving that defense. Find more bargains like cornerback Delvin Breaux. Draft wisely. Draft defense.

It's either that or start over. And when you have a quarterback of Brees' caliber, who wants to start over?

•••
Reach Rick Cleveland at rcleveland@msfame.co

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Other star QB's around the league have given up money to allow the team to spend elsewhere to improve. Brees did not last time.

The Saints should have lost those last few games to move up in the draft.

Anonymous said...

The Saints aren't going back to elite until the hard decisions get made. Brees needs to be cut, not extended. There is no need to wait to start the inevitable rebuild. Playing cap games for a player his age only extends the period of time the team will remain a joke. Brandon Coleman? What team was Rick Cleveland watching this year? Cleveland probably thinks C.J. Spiller had a great season too. Take the lumps of the rebuild now.

Anonymous said...

Brees had a top 3 season and you want to cut him? That is silly.

Anonymous said...

Career seasons mean jack squat without any money to retool the defense. Creating more dead cap money over the next 3-5 years of a Brees contract extension isn't silly, it is absolutely stupid.

You and Cleveland will have plenty of time to fondly reminisce over all those great Brees statistical accomplishments during those offseasons out-of-the-playoffs.

Anonymous said...

Brees had a top 3 season ...

Top 3 in what?

Anonymous said...

Led the league in passing. And he missed a game too.

Davey Jones' Locker Room said...

What good is 'leading the league in passing' when you lose games?

The ship that sank the quickest was the one that fired the most rounds off the port side.

Anonymous said...

"Moving up in the draft" is a consolation prize. At mid-season, nobody really covets having first pick in the draft.

Anonymous said...

Top three in 7-9 losers

Anonymous said...

Agree.
Saints need to clean house.
Too bad they couldn't get any other team to take Payton.

Anonymous said...

The Saints paid Drew Brees too much and are now annoyed with him about it

Anonymous said...

Brees seems more concerned with setting records than winning games.

Anonymous said...

@9:30

If by other star QB's you mean Brady, it appears he's still getting his money:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25421960/report-patriots-pay-a-tom-brady-owned-company-run-by-suspect-partner

Anonymous said...

When your defense is getting gouged to the tune of 30+ points almost every game it is easy for even average quarterbacks to have good statistical years.

Anonymous said...

Alabama fans can thank the Saints for their recent titles and Nick Saban. If the Dolphins had been able to sign Drew Brees instead of the Saints, Saban may have never left the NFL.



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If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

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